Infant and preschool attachment, continuity and relationship to caregiving sensitivity: findings from a new population-based Australian cohort

JE McIntosh; J Opie; CJ Greenwood; A Booth; E Tan; F Painter; M Messer; JA Macdonald; P Letcher; CA Olsson

Journal article

Infant and preschool attachment, continuity and relationship to caregiving sensitivity: findings from a new population-based Australian cohort

JE McIntosh, J Opie, CJ Greenwood, A Booth, E Tan, F Painter, M Messer, JA Macdonald, P Letcher, CA Olsson

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines | Published : 2024

DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13865

Abstract

Background: Here, we report new prevalence and temporal stability data for child attachment and parental caregiving behaviour, from infancy (1 year) to preschool (4 years). Methods: Attachment (SSP) and caregiving data (MBQS) were from observations of parents and their infants and preschoolers, who represent the third generation of participants within an Australian longitudinal cohort. Results: At 1 year (n = 314 dyads) and at 4 years (n = 368 dyads), proportions assessed secure were 59% and 71%, respectively. Proportions assessed avoidant were 15% and 11%; ambivalent 9% and 6%, and disorganised 17% and 12%, at 1 and 4 years. Continuity of attachment pattern was highest for the infant secure..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Jacqui MacDonald Author

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Grants

Awarded by University of Otago

Funding Acknowledgements

The Australian Temperament Project (ATP) commenced in 1983 at Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne Australia, and has been funded by the Australian Research Council and National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. The ATP expanded in 2012 to include next generation offspring - ATP Generation 3 Study - led through the Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, and funded by the Australian Research Council [DP130101459; DP160103160; DP180102447] and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia [APP1082406; APP1175086]. The study remains based at the Royal Children's Hospital and represents a multi-institutional collaboration involving Deakin University, The University of Melbourne, The Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Australian Institute of Family Studies, La Trobe University, The University of Otago (NZ) and The University of New South Wales.